Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.540
Notice of dangerous building; contents; hearing officer; service.
Operative Text
Sec. 140. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, if a building or structure is found to be a dangerous building, the enforcing agency shall issue a notice that the building or structure is a dangerous building. (2) The notice shall be served on the owner, agent, or lessee that is registered with the enforcing agency under section 125. If an owner, agent, or lessee is not registered under section 125, the notice shall be served on each owner of or party in interest in the building or structure in whose name the property appears on the last local tax assessment records. (3) The notice shall specify the time and place of a hearing on whether the building or structure is a dangerous building. The person to whom the notice is directed shall have the opportunity to show cause at the hearing why the hearing officer should not order the building or structure to be demolished, otherwise made safe, or properly maintained. (4) The hearing officer shall be appointed by the mayor, village president, or township supervisor to serve at his or her pleasure. The hearing officer shall be a person who has expertise in housing matters including, but not limited to, an engineer, architect, building contractor, building inspector, or member of a community housing organization. An employee of the enforcing agency shall not be appointed as hearing officer. The enforcing agency shall file a copy of the notice that the building or structure is a dangerous building with the hearing officer. (5) The notice shall be in writing and shall be served upon the person to whom the notice is directed either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the owner or party in interest at the address shown on the tax records. If a notice is served on a person by certified mail, a copy of the notice shall also be posted upon a conspicuous part of the building or structure. The notice shall be served upon the owner or party in interest at least 10 days before the date of the hearing included in the notice.
Under MCL § 125.540, when a local enforcing agency determines that a building or structure qualifies as a dangerous building, it is required to issue a formal written notice and schedule a hearing. The notice must be served on the registered owner, agent, or lessee—or, if no registration exists, on parties identified in local tax records—either personally or by certified mail with a copy posted on the building. The hearing is conducted by an independently appointed officer with housing expertise, giving affected parties an opportunity to contest any proposed order to demolish, repair, or maintain the structure.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 125.540, property owners and their agents who are registered with the enforcing agency are the primary recipients of dangerous-building notices, making current registration records essential for compliant operations. A compliant operator generally ensures that contact information on file with the enforcing agency and in local tax records is accurate and up to date, so that any notice reaches the right party well before the mandatory 10-day pre-hearing window closes. At the scheduled hearing, the owner or their representative has the opportunity to present evidence to the hearing officer—an independent appointee with housing expertise—explaining why demolition or other remedial orders should not be issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.540 establishes that tenants or lessees registered with the enforcing agency may be directly served with a dangerous-building notice and are entitled to participate in the subsequent hearing. As a party in interest, a lessee generally has the right to appear before the independently appointed hearing officer and present reasons why a proposed demolition or remediation order should be reconsidered. Tenants who receive such a notice, or who believe a dangerous-building proceeding affects their home, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the options available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation